Skiing support for ski boots



L- J. KOVAR A TTORNEYS Nov. 4, 1969 SKIING SUPPORT FOR SKI BOOTS an "AK 2 R R m mm F A m m MK m N J. .1 D R A N mmm O E L 4 H .H .H. G. F

5 NM 3 m N 5 mm." m mum m a .5 my a. W 5 A United States Patent US. Cl. 361.5 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device built into or used with the tongue of a ski boot, as an upward extension thereof, to distribute boot pressure along the shin bone and give stiffening support to a skiers lower legs during skiing.

Background of invention Field.--The invention is concerned with ski boots and accessories therefor and provides a type of support, correlated with ski boots, that functions in a unique manner to aid in downhill maneuvers customary in the sport of skiing.

Prior art.So far as ski boots are concerned, no similar supporting device is known. There are, of course, a variety of surgical corrective devices and athletics supports for various other sports, but none of these are concerned with the special problems of skiing, where the execution of graceful turns at high speed requires perfect body control and muscular coordination.

Summary of invention Although no device can, in and of itself, supply the body control necessary for graceful and successful skiing, the purpose of the invention is to supply a device as part of a ski boot, or as an easily applied accessory therefor, that will distribute boot pressure to increase ski edge control and that will constrain a skier to maintain a position conducive to the body control required for grace and success in all phases of downhill skiing.

In accomplishing this purpose the basic concept of the invention was to extend the usual tongue of a ski boot and stiffen the extension so the extended tongue serves to distribute boot pressure and constrain the lower leg against bending forwardly or backwardly at the ankle joint, as well as to provide a reasonable amount of ankle support without a strait-jacketing effect.

The tongue may be extended by lengthening the material of the usual boot tongue or by supplying a separate extension as an auxiliary piece of equipment. Either way, the extension of the boot tongue should reach above the top of the boot a distance placing it opposite the calf of the leg. The length of the extension may vary to suit different individuals, for, even with similar leg lengths, some skiers may find it easier and more comfortable to use one tongue length rather than another.

The tongue extension is stiffened along and preferably centrally of its length by a strip of metal, plastic, or other stiff material, or the entire tongue extension may be made of stiif leather or other material padded for comfort.

The drawing skiers leg showing a typical ski boot in place on the foot and an extension of the boot tongue in accordance with the invention:

FIG. 2, a vertical central section taken through the boot 3,475,835 Patented Nov. 4, 1969 ice and tongue extension of FIG. 1, with the skiers foot and leg removed and the tongue extension shown as it would appear if built into the boot as a part of the usual boot tongue;

FIG. 3, a horizontal section taken on the line 33 of FIG. 2 with background omitted; FIG. 4, a pictorial representation of one form of auxil- 1ary tongue extension; and

FIG. 5, a view corresponding to that of FIG. 3 but taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 4.

Detailed description of illustrated embodiments The illustrated ski boot is typical of ski boots in general, but it should be realized that there are many different styles and particular constructions. The invention is concerned only with the tongue portion of the boot and only with that insofar as it ties in with the tongue extension of the invention.

As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, the ski boot 10 is provided with a normal tongue 11 under an outer flap 10a of the boot. Such tongue 11 has an outer part 12 of thin and supple leather, an inner liner 13 of thin and soft leather, fabric, or other suitable material, and padding 14 therebetween, which may be sponge rubber or any other soft padding material. As illustrated, these parts are extended upwardly, as at 12a, 13a, and 14a, to provide a tongue extension 11a. As shown, the upward extension 12a of the outer part 12 is a separate piece sewed to the regular tongue piece 12, but it may be an integral extension of such regular tongue piece if desired.

Interposed between tongue part extensions 12a and 14a is a relatively narrow strip 15 of rigid material, which may be metal, plastic, or some other suitable material. It provides the stiffness required for the tongue extension.

At the top of the tongue extension 11a is fastened an elastic band 16, for encircling the calf of the leg and preferably resiliently holding the upper part of such tongue extension in place at the front of the leg.

The several parts of the tongue extension may be held together by rivets, adhesive, sewing, or some other suitable means as a unitary boot part.

When made as a separate and auxiliary part for use With any ski boot a skier may happen to be wearing at the time, the tongue extension may be formed in general as shown in FIGS. 1-3, but with the lower padding extension shown in connection with the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the auxiliary tongue extension is a body contoured to fit the front of the leg and comprising a tongue part 17 of supple leather, plastic, or other suitable material, to the front of which is fastened, as by rivets 18, a strip of rigid material 19, such as metal, etc. Fastened, as by adhesive, to the inner face of tongue part 17 at the lower end thereof is a relatively short length 20 of padding material. An elastic band 21 at the top corresponds to the band 16 of the first embodiment. In both instances, however, this may be a leather strap, etc., although the elastic band is favored because of its inherent resiliency.

However constructed, the auxiliary tongue extension is installed by inserting the lower, padded end thereof into the boot, either under or over but usually under, the regular tongue and by lacing the boot in customary manner.

Whereas this invention is here illustrated and specifically described with respect to presently preferred embodiments thereof, it should be realized that other forms are possible without departing from the subject matter of the invention as particularly pointed out in the claims.

I claim:

1. A ski boot adapted to provide increased skiing control for a skier, comprising the combination with a ski boot and ski boot tongue, of a tongue extension upwardly of and above the boot adapted to front only the calf of the skiers leg and to leave the rest of the leg free, said tongue extension having a width closely approximating the width of the ski boot tongue and lengthwise rigidity; and means for attaching the upper part of said tongue extension to the skiers leg.

2. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the tongue extension is permanently attached to the ski boot tongue.

3. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the tongue extension is a separate part auixiliary to the ski boot tongue.

4. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the tongu extension is made of supple material with a relatively narrow strip of rigid material extending lengthwise substantially centrally of its width.

5. A ski boot according to claim 1, wherein the means for attaching the upper part of the tongue extension to the skiers leg is an elastic band, adapted to encircle the calf of the leg.

6. An auxiliary ski boot tongue for use as an upward extension of the usual tongue of a ski boot, comprising a body of tongue formation contoured to fit the front only of a skiers leg opposite the calf and to leave the rest of the leg free, said body having a width closely approximating the width of a ski boot tongue and lengthwise rigidity and the lower end thereof being adapted to lap the upper end of the usual ski boot tongue; and means for attaching the upper part of said body to the skiers leg above the ski boot.

7. An auxiliary ski boot tongue according to claim 6, wherein the body is made of supple material with a relatively narrow strip of rigid material extending lengthwise substantially centrally of its width.

8. An auxiliary ski boot tongue according to claim 6, wherein the means for attaching the upper part of the tongue extension to the skiers leg is an elastic band adapted to encircle the calf of the leg.

9. An auxiliary ski boot tongue according to claim 6, wherein there is additionally provided a length of padding extending from and below the lower end of the body.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,817,841 12/1957 Bilecki 2--22 2,902,779 9/1959 Cook 36--2 3,259,910 7/1966 Daighault 2-24 FOREIGN PATENTS 956,657 1/1957 Germany.

PATRICK D. LAWSON, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

